Small Wonders and Big Requests
Mar 21, 2007 by Tom McEnery Comments (54)
There was a strange and bizarre convergence of issues at the San Jose City Council this week. On the one hand, there was the 1stACT Silicon Valley presentation of proposals for downtown—large and small items that included expanding the Convention Center, building a baseball stadium and 21st century light tower, and creating more Guadalupe River trails, as well as fountains and quiet spots that are a treasure to any city. They accurately presented them as big projects and “small wonders.” A key man behind this was the Adobe CEO, Bruce Chizen, as good a friend as downtown dreamers have had in a long while, and the main presenter was Connie Martinez of the Children’s Discovery Museum. The finances were unspoken, but the vision was impressive. It is a wonderful look at what might be.
Single Gal and Taking the Country by Storm
Mar 20, 2007 by Single Gal Comments (38)
I thought I would take the discussion up a notch to the national level and talk about Barack Obama. He is really taking the country by storm, and it’s beyond refreshing to see. When is the last time you remember someone exciting the country like this?
Potholes and Soccer Goals
Mar 19, 2007 by Pete Campbell Comments (44)
Soccer Stadium Should Be Put to a Vote
On March 9th, the SF Chronicle reported that developer Lew Wolff is moving closer to a deal with the city and San Jose State that would bring a new soccer/football stadium to San Jose.
Nervous D.C. Politicians Hire Stanford Swim Coach
Mar 16, 2007 by John McEnery IV Comments (2)
“Independent” Needed For Review of Beltway Madam’s Records
In an unprecedented show of bipartisanship, a large group of powerful politicians from both sides of the aisle have retained the services of Stanford swim coach Skip Kenney in an effort to combat the recent “diversion” that has engulfed Washington D.C. and titillated a nation.
The Underbelly of the San Jose Real Estate Market Exposed
Mar 15, 2007 by Jack Van Zandt Comments (21)
I usually don’t give more than a passing glance at news about the trials and tribulations of the giant roulette wheel on Wall Street. The hollow ring of their dog-ate-my-homework excuses for dips in market values, like the reasons dreamed up by the PR departments of the oil companies to explain the rise in gas prices while the price of a barrel of oil goes down, just never seem quite credible. However, the excuses given for the recent market falls—turmoil in the mortgage “industry” and the overvalued real estate market—caught my attention because of a local story in the Mercury News on Sunday.
The First Rule of Holes
Mar 14, 2007 by Tom McEnery Comments (39)
It is always amazing to see how desperate political characters can be. Case in point: the assertion from the leader of the labor forces at the South Bay Labor Council, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, that “she” and “they” elected Pierluigi Oliverio. Their absence from all but the victory party was not because of fear or the fine canapés on election night, but because of a careful “strategery.”
Single Gal and Vegas, Baby, Vegas
Mar 13, 2007 by Single Gal Comments (15)
This past weekend, I took a trip with some girlfriends to the one and only “Sin City.” After getting up from a blackjack table, thinking about the $200 I essentially spent on three drinks, I had a few thoughts about if San Jose was more like Las Vegas.
What to Do With the Old City Hall
Mar 12, 2007 by Pete Campbell Comments (20)
Welcome to “Mission Green,” San Jose’s Neighborhood of the Future
Last week, I put forth the idea for a Google or Yahoo “Search and Discover Museum” to be developed at the old Martin Luther King Library property on W. San Carlos. Before such an exciting project (or any other project) could be built there, space would have to be found for the 150 or more city employees who currently hold their offices there.
Mayor Reed Declares War on Budget Gap
Mar 9, 2007 by John McEnery IV Comments (23)
Hans Blix Continues Frantic Search For WSBs
In his first State of the City speech, Mayor Chuck Reed invoked City Council Resolution 678 that authorizes force against cost overruns. He vowed to “hunt down those responsible for the cowardly expenses,” and declared war on the budget gap by raising a citizen militia made up of several municipal groups trained in the art of expense reports.
City Should Expand Photo Ticketing of Speeders
Mar 8, 2007 by Jack Van Zandt Comments (35)
People do not drive nearly as well as they used to in California. That’s a fact. Stand at the intersection of Market and Santa Clara Streets for ten minutes and you will see ten obvious violations at a minimum. In nearly every light cycle, someone will run a red light, another will illegally turn through a crosswalk full of pedestrians and nearly everyone going north on Market is speeding. There is a widespread lack of common courtesy, common sense and common decency among drivers these days.
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